This review was originally published on my website where you can find my other written work and videos.

On my sixth birthday, my big gift was the Lego "Fire Breathing Fortress Castle". I still remember my "Nintendo 64 Kid" reaction. I had just gotten into Legos and while I had the occasional "Ice Tunnelator" or "Pirate Lookout", it was my first full set. My Dad played a crucial role in helping me match the box art but the pieces soon made it into the family Lego bin to be used as needed. The Lego Movie takes place in that bin from our childhood.

Directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller have incorporated the Lego aesthetic with the sense of humor they first brought to the scene with "Clone High" and incorporated that with the same emotional depth that made 21 Jump Street such a pleasant surprise. Credit also has to be given to the Lego corporation and Warner Bros. who allowed Miller and Lord the freedom with their countless licenses.

The film follows Emmet (Chris Pratt) an enthusiastically average construction worker who lives his life following directions for both work and life. The instructions are handed down by President Business (Will Ferrell) who runs the country through a corporation that controls every aspect of the world. There is only one song and one television show and both are massive hits. Emmet's world is turned upside down when he meets the beautiful Wyldstyle (Elizabeth Banks) and finds a mysterious brick that will dismantle President Business' reign of control over the world after joining a group of rebels called "Master Builders."

The plot borrows a lot from traditional science-fiction fare but applies Lego's in creative ways. The Matrix stuck out to me, particularly watching scenes where the Master Builders see random pieces and build something new off the top of their head in the same way Neo sees the code of his false world. The script even goes out of its way to make fun of this - instead of "The Chosen One," our heroes refer to Emmet as "The Special." There are some elements that don't carry over as well, particularly the romantic plot between Emmet and Wyldstyle that doesn't address the same level of parody as other instances. Thankfully the film finds its pathos in ways I won't spoil here.

The performances are excellent all-around. The movie officially kicks off 2014 as Pratt's big year with Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy coming out this summer. On the surface, his voice work comes off as generic because that's the character but he plays enthusiasm and a "gee-whiz" persona that he has developed as Andy on "Parks and Recreation." Though here his character's simple-mindedness comes from naiveté, rather than stupidity.

Both Ferrell and Banks are great as well though Banks isn't given much in terms of the script and her arch is the less meaningful for it. Ferrell on the other hand is great as the villain. He proved he does very well in the role in the underrated Megamind. Unlike that performance though, his transformation is much more sudden causing a wooden performance in an otherwise powerful scene.

The brilliance in the other performances is one of casting and writing as much as anything else. Morgan Freeman as the Obi-Wan Kenobi character is the perfect role for him, as is Nick Offerman as Metal Beard, a brilliantly designed mecha-pirate with shark on one arm and dual-canons on the other. Will Arnett is also excellent as a parody interpretation of Christopher Nolan's Batman. There are so many superb smaller-supporting roles that it will be entirely up to the audience to pick their favorite - mine is Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill as Superman and Green Lantern respectively.

Like a the bucket of random Lego pieces that create this world. Every random piece of the film from the writing, casting, performances and aesthetic comes together to form a truly special, greater whole.

****/*****

What did you think of The Lego Movie? Is it the best you've seen so for this year or has something else stood out. Let me know in the comments below or send me an email to tylerlyonblog@gmail.com. You can also follow me on Twitter at @tylerlyon.

You may notice that I have skipped an episode in my recaps. I apologize but sometimes life get's in the way. I touch on "Granite State," but this is firmly a recap of the finale.

It's over and it ended pretty much how we knew it would. "Friday Night Lights," - another one of my pantheon shows - did the same. This brings up a larger issue with finales, particularly drama's. Very rarely are the final stories, whether they're presented in the first episode or the last thirty minutes they are rarely as satisfying as the rest of the show. This is tough when audiences put everything into what's one piece of the entire show - something that makes our world of recaps all the more trivial.

Breaking Bad has always been the best type of show in that it only gave audiences what they wanted if it coincided with where Gilligan and crew were going in the same direction. Without that mentality, episodes like "Ozymandis" or "Granite State," wouldn't be two of the season's - and series' - stand-outs.

The only two moments from the Vince Gilligan directed finale, the first being Walt's visit to the Schwartz residence, which after last week's episode I didn't think was in the cards since it also had the final Saul scene of the series. The other twist was the Ricin going to Lydia. I never completely understood audience dislike for Ms. Rodarte-Quayle. I get that she's a cold, "Type-A," but I never found her to be the problem of the operation but with the way the episode ended, all loose ends had to go if Walt wanted the blue empire to stop with him.

Other loose ends last night included Todd who, until he pulled the trigger on Theresa last week, I was certain would end up next to Ted in the physical therapy clinic. Again, this finale was all about making us as comfortable as possible - with the exception of the laser pointer show at the Schwartz's - after being extremely uncomfortable throughout the season, particularly in "Ozymandis." Once the Schwartz's were revealed to be safe and sound, it was clear that Walt was only seeking harm on the only people more evil than him.

This is the biggest issue I have had with this season. The villains of this final season used artificial characterization that didn't live up to The Twins, Gus or even Hank who was much a more effective adviserry. Credit goes to Jesse Plemmons though, who has nearly out-shined his "Friday Night Lights," roots. After the penultimate episode, I wouldn't be surprised if we saw him in The Purge sequel as the main home invader.

Ultimately, last night's finale is merely a less meaningful piece than that of the final season which is a hell of an achievement. Like when any of my favorite shows end, I'm looking forward to going back and re-watching the entire show to see how it holds up as a whole, especially in knowing the end game. For a show that is pure plot, but has seemingly done it better than any other drama. Regardless how that happens this was an epic journey that's fitting as being one of the last golden age shows on the air.